The Tor Tiv and chairman of the Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, Professor James Ayatse, has appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what he called a “full-scale genocidal invasion” of rural communities across Benue State.
Addressing the mounting violence in the state, Professor Ayatse rejected descriptions of the attacks as communal clashes or reprisal killings, warning that such labels “undermine a real solution.”
“It is not communal clashes. It is not reprisal attacks. What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and vandalism campaign by pedo-terrorists and bandits, which has been on for decades and is worsening every year,” he said.
He urged President Tinubu to apply the same political will and decisiveness demonstrated in economic reforms, such as the removal of the fuel subsidy and exchange-rate reform, to restore peace in Benue.
“You have shown courage where others failed. You can give us peace. You can stop our weeping. Benue is bleeding. Give us back our lives,” the traditional ruler appealed.
Professor Ayatse also accused certain political actors of exploiting the bloodshed for their own ends.
“There are those who even prefer the crisis to escalate just so a state of emergency can be declared. Instead of collaborating to end the violence, they are politicising the bloodshed.”
Stating Benue’s historic contribution during the civil war, he questioned why the state now “deserves this.” He warned that the ongoing displacement of farming communities threatens Nigeria’s food security, calling on the federal government to act swiftly to prevent further hardship.
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